My Sister’s Keeper
The movie My Sister’s Keeper is based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and it deals essentially with a debate between pro choice and pro life. The plot of the movie is that through in vitro fertilization, a girl takes birth.
This genetically designed girl is considered to be an organ bank for her family. Yes, she has been given birth to save her ailing sister and to donate organs to her. This little girl is always undergoing major operations since her birth.
This movie is no science fiction and in no way it reflects Kazuo Ishiguros’s film Never Let Me Go that is all about cloned human replacements.
In this film, the ailing sister is Kate who is 16 years old and the character is portrayed by Sofia Vassilieva. She was predicted to live not more than 5 years. But, it was here that things took a different turn when Cameron Diaz, who plays the role of Kate’s mother as Sara and Jason Patrick who is her husband as Brian decided to go for in vitro fertilization. It was then Anna was born. She was born to donate blood, bone marrow, stem cells and everything to Kate for her to survive.
However, the story takes a twist and turn when Anna decides to file a law suit against her parents on the grounds of medical emancipation. She was dismayed at the thought that she was conceived as an organ bank by her parents. Anna went aghast when she was asked to donate one of her kidneys to Kate. She felt that she also needed to live a normal life and felt that she wants to feel the world beyond the realm of operation theaters.
Sara is a successful Los Angeles lawyer and Brian is a fire chief. They have a son Jesse who is a good student but always felt that he was ignored. Sara was relentlessly pursuing only one thing in her life and that is to save her ailing child Kate. Besides this, she also wanted to win her every case in private life as well.
Anna and Kate share a close chemistry but Anna wants to live her days so she goes to the attorney Campbell Alexander who is portrayed by Alec Baldwin in this film. Anna tells him that she has only $700 as her savings and that is what she can afford to give him as his fees. Though it was far less than what Alec charges nevertheless he accepts to take this case.
On the other hand Sara is appalled knowing about the lawsuit, and her husband is shocked. But Brian feels that there is a point in what Anna thinks and has to say so he was calmer than his wife. However, it was a challenge on the part of Cameron Diaz as she was fiercely determined to save her daughter Kate and that reflected her unconditional love towards her.
In this film what is worth watching is Alec Baldwin’s timed comedy. His wit with a dash of humor is delightful. Another strong performance was given by John Cusack as a judge. Again, there are few thoughtful, romantic and tender shots that audience will feel engrossed with. The thoughtful scenes were a relationship that developed between Kate and her fellow hospital patient Taylor who was battling with cancer.
The screenplay is also awesome and you will also appreciate the fact that there is no routine courtroom shots, instead you get to k now about the verdict in the best possible manner.
Film: My Sister’s Keeper
Cast: Cameron Diaz as Sara, Abiqail Breslin as Anna, Alec Baldwin as Campbell, Jason Patric as Brian, Joan Cusack as Judge
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Writer: Jeremy Leven
Run Time: 1 hour and 48 minutes
Rating: 3.5/5
Also Read:
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Paul Sculfor dumped Cameron Diaz because he loves being
Cameron Diaz’s relaxation mantra: house-dusting!
Posted on Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 6:23 pm